News in brief

Billionaire paradise

Are you considering taking a long-delayed holiday? Try the pacific islands of Fiji. In an enticing tweet, the country's prime minister says: "Say you're a billionaire looking to fly your own jet, rent your own island, and invest millions of dollars in Fiji in the process... you may have a new home to escape the pandemic in paradise." Can't wait!

Deeper in debt

photo Creative Commons Zero - CC0 (Click to enlarge)

Unsurprisingly, given the rise in unemployment and the effects of pay cuts through furloughing, etc, the number of people unable to pay their bills continues to increase.

Last month, mortgage repayments were down 14%; rents by 11%, and council tax by 9%, compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Food insecurity

Latest government figures from the Food Standards Agency show that declining incomes during the pandemic have forced millions to go without food or rely on food banks. The FSA reckons up to 7.7 million cash-strapped adults reduced meal portion sizes or skipped meals. And up to 3.7 million adults had to use a food bank.

Councils' crisis

A Ł6 billion shortfall in council funding in England during this financial year by the Tory government will mean more savage cuts to local services and council tax/service charges increases. Extra financial pressures and revenue falls because of the pandemic mean that an estimated eight out of ten councils face bankruptcy. Trade unions and the wider working class communities must get organised to stop jobs and services being slashed.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.